An ovarian cyst is a fluid filled sac that develops within the ovary of the female reproductive system. It is most of the times benign (non-cancerous) but there could be a chance of it developing into a cancerous cyst over time due to mutations. Ovarian cysts could be as small as a pea and could develop to be as large as an orange. Most ovarian cysts are asymptomatic in nature and need no special medical attention.

However when a cyst starts to cause symptoms, medical attention might be required. Abdominal swelling and pelvic pain are the most common symptoms. Patients suffering from this condition also complain about experiencing pain during sexual intercourse and heavy, irregular periods. Other signs and symptoms include fatigue, headaches, nausea and weight gain. Sharp abdominal pain could also be experienced when a cyst burst.

Diagnosis

Ovarian cysts are most commonly identified by an ultrasound scan or CT scan. These scans are painless and could be done quickly.

Treatment

The type of treatment administered is decided based on the size of the cyst identified as well as the complications that could occur further down into the future. For minor and non-serious cases, pain relievers could be used to alleviate the pain. Moreover, hormonal contraceptives could be used to regulate the menstrual cycle to prevent the development of follicles into cysts.

However for more serious cases, surgery could be considered. This could involve the direct removal of the cyst or the complete removal of one or both ovaries. Cysts that were removed during surgery would be analysed to determine whether it is cancerous in nature.